Third candidate joins race for Dundee Township Highway chief

A third person has thrown his hat in the ring as a Republican candidate for Dundee Township Highway Commissioner.

A township resident since 1986, Scott Sinnett has filed to run for the seat held by Larry Braasch.

Braasch and Carpentersville resident Michael Rogers also are vying for the post.

In a news release, Sinnett said he is running on a platform of greater transparency in road department operations, getting more use out of equipment, and stronger cooperation between the road department and the supervisor's office.

He said the road district has overlapping equipment and manpower needs with the open space and cemetery departments, and he believes a well-crafted intergovernmental agreement between the supervisor's office and the roads department would offer a more efficient use of equipment and manpower as well as enhance levels of service for all of the departments.

Sinnett, owner and operator of Sinnett Excavating for the past 30 years, said he also supports the Dundee Township Republican organization's anti-nepotism/cronyism resolution that was approved in October.

"Township jobs are good jobs and should be open to all residents," he said. "When elected officials hire relatives, it is inevitable that taxpayers feel that family members have an unfair advantage."

In a news release, Rogers, who calls himself a reform candidate, said he wants to use his professional expertise in energy efficiency to reduce costs in the highway department. He also plans to clean up the township "from the streets to the office."

"Nepotism and cronyism have run rampant," he said on his candidate Facebook page. "And it's time for a new highway commissioner to clean things up."

Larry Braasch's wife, Jean, has been employed by Dundee Township for three decades. Braasch said since 2009 she has been working part-time doing clerical work for him twice a week.

"(The resolution) is something they just passed, and my wife is about ready to retire. What am I supposed to do? Fire my wife? She's a very good employee. There should be some kind of grandfather clause," Braasch said.

Dundee Township Supervisor Sue Harney said Braasch also employs a few other relatives in the roads department in full-time and part-time positions.

At this time, Harney said, he is the only Township official who employs his relatives in his operation.

"I have never employed any of my relatives for any Township jobs," she said.

Township Assessor Mike Bielak employs a relative of his staff for part-time and seasonal work, Harney said. That individual worked for four hours last month. The Assessor doesn't have any of his own relatives on his payroll now, she said.

"Several years ago he did hire his kids for seasonal work but they have moved on," she said.

The salary for the Dundee Township Highway Commissioner is $73,000 per year but will be changing to $76,650 next year, according to township records.

Braasch began with Dundee Township as a mechanic in 1988 and in 2000 was appointed highway commissioner.

"Then in 2001 I ran for highway commissioner and got elected. I've been here ever since," he said.

As for why he's planning to run again, "I know what it takes to do the job," he said.

"I like what I do and I want to keep Dundee Township in good shape and the best in the county," Braasch said.